6

Dad was working morning shift for Mr Morgan, so it was Ken, Mara, Simmi, Raman, Grandma and Aunt SanJ at home; uncle Jeevan was out job hunting.

You can only guess what havock was about to go down.

First off we- my sisters and I- woke up extremely late, say, past 12. But it was a Saturday! We scampered downstairs when we heard sounds of vacuum machines and other electrical appliances blowing up downstairs.

No, not blowing up. But the results were somewhere around that. The living room looked like Mara washed her late dog in it, and judging from the size of the vacuum cleaner, I'm guessing it sucked a whole lot more of books than dirt. We had paused (thankfully) just 3 metres away from it before it blew up. This time, louder than the others. It also left its mark.

Simmi stood beside the idol, hands crossing her heart. She was staring at the vacuum like it was a monstrous machine.

Before I could think of anything to do Kendall rushed to the kitchen and let out a yelp, like a magnet pulling iron, the sound pulled our legs forward to the kitchen to see the damage ourselves.

And it was...oh.

So the dishwasher did blow up, and standing beside it was an ash faced Aunt SanJ. What else? Our China wares got broken.

"What on Earth happened here?" Kendall asks finally and Aunt SanJ wipesnher eyes.

"I'm so sorry. I put a small pot in alongside the other plates-"

"Why would you confuse a plate for a pot?" Mara interrupts, gaining a slap on the head from me.

"Sorry girls. I know you guys are stressed out from school and I just wanted to help," Aunt SanJ says looking downcast and I felt sorry too.

"I think we can clean it up," I say, moving to inspect the damage but once I looked at it, I looked back at Mara and said; "call daddy."

Grandma came downstairs almost the time dad came. Don't ask me from where. We didn't try to arrange the living room nor the kitchen although Aunt SanJ and Simmi tried to do it, we stopped them because Simmi was already injured. I tried cleaning it though, but Ken said it was better to leave it like that. Mara had said:

"Don't want you breaking the other half of the Fine China now do we?"

Because of her continuously spitting venom I locked her in her room until daddy came.

He paused the moment he saw the room, his eyes flew to us before the others. I could tell from the way his eyes lost their sparkle that he knew his family did this, his extended family, and I knew he was thanking the stars that mum wasn't home.

"What happened here?" He asked slowly before coming in.

The living room wasn't that bad, no broken glass on the floor.

"Uncle Raj I'm so sorry. I should've asked for help with the vacuum cleaner before doing the chores," Simmi ranted and dad raised a brow, confused but he also managed to nod.

"Yes, you should have."

Grandma raised her chin.

"I told her to do it," She glanced at us. "Since none of your girls looked like they were waking up soon."

Kendall clenched her hands but hid it behind her butt.

"Grandma, she could've woken us up. She should've," She said before dad's nod.

"Yes. Ken's right."

"Oh but poor Simmi is shy and the way your girls carry themselves doesn't help matters."

My eyes flicker to Simmi and I find her looking at me weirdly.

Something snaps in my body.

"I really don't think she should feel that way, regardless of how timid she is, no one should be so proud to ask for help,"

Grandma didn't reply, but dad did.

"Listen it's ok. I'm not punishing anyone but next time you should ask for help Simmi."

"There's the kitchen too," Mara piped ad dad's eyes widened. The kitchen.... mum's Haven. He dropped his bag and made a beeline to the kitchen but stopped once he spotted the ash on the white walls.

"Jesus." I heard him whisper. Then...

"The hell?! Who did this?!"

I felt sorry for Aunt SanJ, who was slowly walking forward, head bent. Dad's anger subsided once he saw her, he'd always had a soft spot for her because she resembled a rabbit in a good way...at least that's what he tells me.

"Sanjana?" Dad asked exasperatedly and she frowned even more.

"I'm really sorry brother-in-law, I didn't mean to wreck the place up," she apologized.

"Mara, go get the broom and sweep the floor." He said, looking at Mara, who was glaring at him.

"Why should I do it? I didn't break nothing." She whined but dad's expression didn't change.

"Mara. Go get a broom and sweep the floor." He repeated and hearing his tone made my pulse rise.

Stupid Mara folded her arms and shook her head.

"No daddy it's not fair. I was sleeping. Since you obviously can't send Aunt SanJ, send Simmi. She's the one who messed up the living room-"

"You should've woken earlier." Grandma piped in.

"It's Saturday! Kids my age wake up past 1!"

Exaggeraaaaation!!! I never woke up past 1 when I was Mara's age.

Grandma's face turned red.

"Don't shout at me you imp."

"At least I know how to use a vacuum and a dishwasher. I'm a useful imp."

It all happened too fast. The same time dad shouted "Amara!"

Grandma's hand had already landed on Mara's soft face and it left marks.

The place was dead silent but the tension was high. Dad was staring at Grandma, who was staring at Mara, who was staring at the floor.

She stumbled and dad reached for her and she wrapped her hands around his waist and released her tears.

It hurt so bad, the last time I saw Mara cry was when she was 5 and mum was leaving for work. She never, ever cried in public.

"You shouldn't have slapped her" Dad said calmly and grandma looked away.

"She should've gotten it a long time ago, talking back so easily."

"Mother we don't hit our kids."

"I can see."

"You shouldn't have slapped her!"

Grandma replied, but I didn't hear what she said but I'm pretty sure dad didn't too. We were too focused on the woman by the front door- mum.

My mother could've reacted in several ways

- scream at all of us and take Mara.

- yelled at Aunt SanJ and Simmi and grandma.

- slapped dad?

- Take us (my sisters and I) and leave.

But she didn't do any of that. If you haven't noticed yet, mum didn't like us getting hit.

She has never done it. And yeah, she loves us all but Mara is the god. Not her favorite (that's Amba), the untouchable.

So you can imagine how our hearts were racing as she took a step inside, looking at the room, and then her eyes rested on Mara, whose sobs were audible from a mile away.

She dropped her bag and made her way to Mara, crouching and turning her around. I couldn't see the look on her face when she saw mum but I can guess she smiled because mum smiled too and they hugged, also her tears poured down even more but they had a different tone. Relief.

Dad coughed after a while and mum released Mara, touched her bruise and glanced at dad. Her eyes were calculating, dark and daring. I couldn't guess what was running through her mind. She got up, went back to take her bag, said; "Amara go upstairs and take the first aid kit to your room." And then gave Kendall and me a look that said 'follow me'.

I ran upstairs quickly to Mara's room before anyone can stop me.

"Mum," I said with relief going to hug her. She smiled at me and sighed.

"Mara and Kendall told me about everything that's been happening,"

I nodded and looked around at Mara, who had her eyes closed.

"She's grounded," Mum said softly. "Your grandmother shouldn't have slapped her but Mara shouldn't have tested her either."

I nodded again. Mara shifted.

"I hate them," She murmured and mum shook her head.

"Don't Amara. Don't be bitter.". Like your Grandma.

I almost laugh.

That night, mum didn't eat dinner with us, actually, we ordered Chinese food since the kitchen was still in disaray, mum slept in Amba's room and locked the door so she wouldn't have to talk to Dad. It was better that way, I prefer to hear nothing at all than to hear screams.

'Cause that's what she would do.